Xavier Scruggs

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Xavier Scruggs

| image = Xavier Scruggs batting for the Memphis Redbirds in 2015 (Cropped).jpg

| width =

| caption = Scruggs batting for the Memphis Redbirds in 2015

| position = First baseman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|9|23}}

| birth_place = Whittier, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 4

| debutyear = 2014

| debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = October 2

| finalyear = 2016

| finalteam = Miami Marlins

| debut2league = KBO

| debut2date = March 31

| debut2year = 2017

| debut2team = NC Dinos

| final2league = KBO

| final2date = October 13

| final2year = 2018

| final2team = NC Dinos

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .227

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 1

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 14

| stat2league = KBO

| stat21label = Batting average

| stat21value = .277

| stat22label = Home runs

| stat22value = 61

| stat23label = Runs batted in

| stat23value = 208

| teams =

St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2016}})
NC Dinos ({{by|2017}}–{{by|2018}})

}}

Xavier Ladel Scruggs (born September 23, 1987) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.

Professional career

=Early career=

Scruggs attended Poway High School in Poway, California. The Seattle Mariners selected Scruggs in the 50th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign{{cn|date=November 2023}} and attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to play college baseball for the UNLV Rebels. During his three years at UNLV he hit .328/.427/.652 with 34 home runs and 112 runs batted in (RBIs).

=St. Louis Cardinals=

After his junior year, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Scruggs in the 19th round of the 2008 draft. He signed with the Cardinals.[http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/scruggs-signs-cardinals Scruggs signs with Cardinals]

Scruggs called up to the majors for the first time on September 4, 2014.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140906191957/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/93075444 Cards promote Scruggs to add depth at first base][http://host.madison.com/sports/baseball/professional/brewers-cardinals-set-to-add-aaa-slugger-xavier-scruggs-for/article_b13be6bd-5f6f-5440-b4cb-c8227aa5afa6.html Brewers: Cardinals set to add AAA slugger Xavier Scruggs for Milwaukee series] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906234625/http://host.madison.com/sports/baseball/professional/brewers-cardinals-set-to-add-aaa-slugger-xavier-scruggs-for/article_b13be6bd-5f6f-5440-b4cb-c8227aa5afa6.html |date=September 6, 2014 }} He made his major league debut that day, but his major league action in 2014 was brief. He started the next season at Memphis. After batting .274 with five home runs and 16 RBI in 17 games in April, he was named the Cardinals' organizations Player of the Month.{{cite web |author=Palm Beach Cardinals |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-122720460 |title=Reyes, Scruggs named Minor League Players of the Month |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=May 6, 2015 |access-date=July 3, 2015}} The Cardinals recalled him from Memphis on June 19, 2015.{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Luke |url=http://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/st-louis-cardinals-call-up-xavier-scruggs-greg-garcia-send-down-mitch-harris-ed-easley-061915 |title=Cardinals call up Scruggs, Garcia, send down Harris, Easley |publisher=FOX Sports Midwest |date=June 19, 2015 |access-date=June 20, 2015}} Four days later against the Miami Marlins, he provided three hits and two RBI, including a game-tying double, in an eventual 4–3 win.{{cite web |last1=Dorsey |first1=Steve |last2=Wilaj |first2=Steve |url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/132487912/liner-off-marlins-pitcher-lifts-cardinals?game_pk=414723 |title=Liner off Marlins pitcher lifts Cardinals after HBPs |work=MLB.com |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626112846/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/132487912/liner-off-marlins-pitcher-lifts-cardinals?game_pk=414723 |url-status=dead }} Another three-hit, two-RBI effort followed on June 27 in an 8–1 win over the Chicago Cubs.{{cite web |last1=Muskrat |first1=Carrie |last2=Langosch |first2=Jenifer |url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/133319786/cards-put-on-clinic-vs-cubs-for-5th-straight-w?game_pk=414770 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701024133/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/133319786/cards-put-on-clinic-vs-cubs-for-5th-straight-w?game_pk=414770 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |title=Cards put on clinic vs. Cubs for 5th straight W |work=MLB.com |date=June 27, 2015 |access-date=June 28, 2015}}

=Miami Marlins=

On November 30, 2015, Scruggs signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-nov-21-27/|title=Minor League Transactions: Nov. 21-27|first=Matt|last=Eddy|work=Baseball America|date=December 1, 2015|access-date=December 1, 2015}} He was called up from Triple-A to play first base for the Marlins on August 19, 2016,{{cite web |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-marlins/fl-marlins-news-0820-20160819-story.html|title=Xavier Scruggs gets his shot at first base for Marlins|first=Tim|last=Healey|date=19 August 2016|access-date=21 August 2016|work=Sun Sentinel}} and hit his first career homer, a 2-run shot off Pirates pitcher Chad Kuhl, in a 3-1 Marlins win on August 20. On October 24, he was outrighted off of the team’s 40-man roster.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=360820123|title=Scruggs, Phelps power Marlins to 3-1 win over Pirates|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN|date=20 August 2016|access-date=21 August 2016}}

=NC Dinos=

Scruggs signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the NC Dinos of the KBO League on December 26, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/xavier-scruggs-signs-with-koreas-nc-dinos.html|title=Xavier Scruggs Signs With Korea's NC Dinos|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 27, 2016|access-date=December 27, 2016}} He became a free agent following the 2018 season. In two years with the Dinos in the KBO, Scruggs hit 61 home runs and drove in 208 runs.

=Leones de Yucatán=

On June 17, 2019, Scruggs signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He was released on December 5, 2019. In 57 games he hit .262/.362/.471 with 11 home runs, 31 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

Post-baseball career

In April 2021, Scruggs joined the St. Louis Cardinals baseball operations team as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant.

Xavier Scruggs has covered MLB for ESPN since 2021. He also covers the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA every August for the sports cable network. {{cite tweet |last=Scruggs |first=Xavier |author-link=Xavier Scruggs |user=Xavier_Scruggs |number=1382771233427763203 |date=April 15, 2021 |title=Some big news I've been holding onto for a bit… I'm officially starting work with the @cardinals Baseball Operations team as their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant |language=en |access-date=September 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415225538/https://twitter.com/Xavier_Scruggs/status/1382771233427763203 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |url-status=live}} In April 2022, Scruggs was hired as an inaugural panelist for the MLB Network show Off Base.{{cite web |title=Off Base |url=https://www.mlb.com/network/shows/off-base |website=MLB Network |access-date=22 April 2022}}

References

External links

{{Baseballstats |mlb=489305 |espn=32215 |br=s/scrugxa01 |fangraphs=7409 |brm=scrugg001xav}}

{{Twitter|Xavier_Scruggs|Xavier Scruggs}}
{{Instagram|Xavier_Scruggs|Xavier Scruggs}}
[http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/scruggs_xavier00.html UNLV Rebels bio]

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American baseball players

Category:Sportspeople from Diamond Bar, California

Category:Baseball players from Los Angeles County, California

Category:Major League Baseball first basemen

Category:ESPN people

Category:St. Louis Cardinals players

Category:Miami Marlins players

Category:NC Dinos players

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:UNLV Rebels baseball players